Papa Dan’s owner discusses rebuilding process over a year after devastating arson fire

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) - Papa Dan's is set to open back up, a little over a year after a devastating arson fire that destroyed a row of businesses in Palm Desert.

The restaurant has been part of Palm Desert for more than 40 years.

"I think I’m still in shock," said Ira Mosley, the restaurant owner on the fateful morning the restaurant burned to the ground. News Chanel Three's Tori King was the first one on the scene that day, and that's where she met Mosley.

"I don’t think it’s really set in yet," he told her. On the morning of April 14th 2024, Mosley, along with a crowd of horrified bystanders watched the beloved pizza restaurant was reduced to rubble. It had been a Palm Desert staple, serving customers for more than four decades, until the tragedy hit.

That day, Mosley swore to rebuild.

Since then, the shopping center has been leveled, and construction is on-going. The building's framework is now standing, but the progress is slow.

But Papa Dan’s won’t be rebuilt in its old spot. Instead, its moving a few doors down. Still remaining in the same shopping center off Monterey and Country Club.
Mosely gave News Channel 3 a behind the scenes look at the current progress as construction continues.

"This is where the patio is going to be," said Mosley. "This will all have a block wall built around it because of the cars and parking lots."
Over the last 13 months Mosely has been planning, preparing, and progressing through red tape, construction delays, and permits to get this new building restaurant ready.

"It originally started out as a Jobs and Pools, and then it was a Wells Fargo," said Mosley. "Then it was Curves Gym, but it's never been a restaurant. I'm thrilled about a separate building, no neighbors, parking lot of my own, the visibility on Monterey."

Mosely says the City of Palm Desert stepped in to help, providing him with a $200,000 dollar grant to resurrect the restaurant.

"These people have bent over backwards for me," explained Mosely. "In everything that they've done, from permits, from inspections. I call for an inspection, they're here the same day. I mean, I couldn't ask for more."
And according to Thomas Soule, the city was more than happy to help.
"We've also tried to be there to help him work through all the bumps in the road," Soule explained. "As everybody knows, rebuilding building processes are complicated and unforeseen things happen, and so we wanted to be there to work hand in hand with him, to make sure that he could get through that process and get back up and running as quickly as possible."

Mosely says the new space will be larger than the last, will include two kitchens, and a brand new bar, something the other location lacked. A majority of the original staff will also be returning to welcome back customers on opening day.

"All the weight staff is coming back," said Mosley. "Almost all the kitchen staff is coming back. Almost all the front counter and delivery drivers are coming back. I didn't want to leave this area, because this is geographically, the exact center of Palm Desert. And we've been here for 42 years. You know, it's everybody comes here, it's home, it's home.

The construction continues, but Mosely says it will likely reopen in the late summer, making all of the work worth it in the end.

"I didn't think I would do this at this 77," said Mosely. "This is made for young people, not made for old people. Anyone can rebuild. How much effort you want to put in? It's a lot of effort. And it's finally going to be done soon."
News Channel 3 will continue checking in with Mosley for an official reopening date.